More than 100 protesters solemnly marched from the U.S. Capitol to the White House, with many of them clad in jumpsuits and black hoods. They claimed to represent Guantanamo prisoners who have been cleared for release, but remain in custody, as well as those who have died at the facility.

For years, field trips have linked core subjects to destinations outside the classroom. Now they are being met with increased scrutiny nationwide as public schools deal with budget shortfalls. The Maize School District in a suburb of Wichita, suspended field trips in February for the remainder of the year, says Karen McDermott, a school spokeswoman.

The Seychelles Coast Guard said Tuesday it had arrested nine suspected pirates believed to be behind the weekend attempt to hijack a luxury cruise liner carrying an estimated 1,000 tourists in the Indian Ocean.

The United Nations opens its first global racism conference in eight years on Monday with the U.S. and at least five other countries boycotting the event out of concern that Islamic countries will demand that in denounce Israel and ban criticism of Islam.